Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-09-11

/ fees which these honorable gentlemen
themselves gobble for attending the courts
or governing bodies. These fees in some
CASES, amsunt to five guineas ($26) for q
sitting of half an hour. Over 500, OOC
annually is thus poeketed by the members
Of the courts. The largest item Is the
amount expended on the halls, of which
there are no less than thirty-four. Some
Of these halls are grand. The staircase in
the GOldsmiths' Hall cost $50, 600.
The Diapers Company recently
spent 500, 600 on the decorations and
alterations in their hall There are thirty
four buildings in the heart OF the city
practically useless. They are simply kept
mp for dining purposes. One or two halls
would do for that. These halls, if pulled
down and sites converted into some useful
purpose, would represent rental OF from
$3.50, 600 to 81, Geo. 600. Thus while thou
are on
THE VERGE OF STARVATION
in London, those wealthy companies pay
n million q year rent for their banquet
halls. Added to this the value of the
plate and furniture, which is valued at
from 81, 500, 600 to g, 600, 900, and we have
some idea of the Opulence OF these city
companies. The annual expenditure in
actual salaries Is between $500, 900 and
500, 600; some OF the persons employed
receiving as high as $lO,O per annum.
OF the total income then, we lind liter
ally millions layished on decorations and
halls, $500, 900 poeketed annually as court
fees by the ring in control, and from $500,
600 to $500, 600 discussed a. salaries.
How much is spent on feasting? Five
hundred thousand dollars annually. This
according to the companies estimate. More
if outside estimates are correct. How
much Is
SPENT on BENEVOLENT OBJECTS?
About seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars.
Half a million dollars annually swal-
lowed up of these public trust funds by the
liyeried commands, nearly 4 quarter OF a
million pOcketed in fees, and million
flung away on elaborate staircases and eX-
travagaut salaries and for appearance sake.
Seven hundred and fifty thousand is an
nually spent on benevolent objects. And
this has been going on for centuries. They
have become 30 accustomed 20 this sort OF
thing in England that they don't call it
public robbery rs we do in the United
States. The honorable gentlemen who
pocket these illegal fees, who gorge them
selves at these banquets, who dlSpOrt them
selves in liveried grandeur within these
decorated halls, believe they have a right
to these public trusts. They read with
horror Of the frauds perpetIated in New
York by Jake Sharp and his gang, and ex-
claim, "Bless me, what shocking fellows
these Americans are" Yet they are them
selves engaged in one Of
The MOST GIGANTIC STEALS
of modern times--a steal involving, it we
estimate the rental value of the thirty
four useless halls, $4,000, 600 annually.
A Royal Commission has investigated the
subject, and men like Lord Derby, the
Duke OF Bedford, Lord SherbrOoke, Lord
COleridge, Sir Sydney WaterlOw and
Others have signed their names TO report
which tells some plain truths about these
city companies Ana that is all. The
ring, alarmed at the popular clamor for
the restoration of this public money to the